US4432349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Articulated tube structure for use in an endoscope
Assignee: Fujinon Corp
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Filing: 1981-10-05
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Granted: 1984-02-21
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Expires: 2001-10-05
Abstract
Abstract An articulated tube structure for use in an endoscope or the like consists of a number of elementary tubes connected in end-to-end relationship. Between the adjacent elementary tubes are provided springs to urge the articulated tube to bend in one direction. The endoscope is provided with a manipulating box to bend the articulated tube in a desired direction. The articulated tube is spring urged in one direction and is manipulated to bend as desired by operation of pull wires extending through the articulated tube and fixed at their end to the head of the endoscope. The springs may be composed of a series of coil springs provided around one pull wire between adjacent elementary tubes. The spring constant of the coil springs may be increased from the manipulating box to the head so as to bend the articulated tube to more extent in the portion closer to the head than the portion remote from the head.
Inventors
- 👤 Susumu Oshiro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055; A61B1/0057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
An articulated tube structure for use in an endoscope connected between a head for inspection and a flexible tube which is connected with a manipulating box, said articulated tube structure comprising a number of elementary tubes connected in end-to-end relationship to form an articulated tube, connecting means for connecting the elementary tubes in such a manner that the articulated tube composed thereof is bendable, spring means for urging the articulated tube to bend in one direction, and manipulating means including pull wires extending through the elementary tubes along several sides of the articulated tube for bending the articulated tube in one direction by pulling one of the pull wires on one side of the tube and in another direction by pulling another pull wire on another side thereof, for allowing the articulated tube to bend by the force of said spring means, said spring means comprising a number of coil springs each inserted between adjacent elementary tubes, one coil spring being close to the head and another close to the manipulating box, the spring constant of the coil spring close to the head being larger than that of the coil spring close to the manipulating box.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
An articulated tube structure for use in an endoscope connected between a head for inspection and a flexible tube which is connected with a manipulating box, said articulated tube structure comprising a number of elementary tubes connected in end-to-end relationship to form an articulated tube, connecting means for connecting the elementary tubes in such a manner that the articulated tube composed thereof is bendable, spring means for urging the articulated tube to bend in one direction, and manipulating means including pull wires extending through the elementary tubes along several sides of the articulated tube for bending the articulated tube in one direction by pulling one of the pull wires on one side of the tube and in another direction by pulling another pull wire on another side thereof, for allowing the articulated tube to bend by the force of said spring means, said spring means comprising a number of coil springs each inserted between adjacent elementary tubes, one coil spring being close to the head and another close to the manipulating box, the spring constant of the coil spring close to the head being larger than that of the coil spring close to the manipulating box.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
194 words
An articulated tube structure for use in an endoscope or the like comprising a number of elementary tubes connected in end-to-end relationship to form an articulated tube, connecting means for connecting the elementary tubes in such a manner that the articulated tube composed thereof is bendable, spring means connected between adjacent elementary tubes on one side of the articulated tube for urging the articulated tube to bend in one direction, and manipulating means including pull wires extending through the elementary tubes along several sides of the articulated tube for bending the articulated tube in one direction by pulling one of the pull wires on one side of the tube and in another direction by pulling another pull wire on another side thereof, for allowing the articulated tube to bend by the force of said spring means, said connecting means comprising connecting pins provided between adjacent elementary tubes for pivotally connecting the same, each connecting pin having an inwardly extending portion provided with a through hole through which one of said pull wires passes, said spring means comprising a series of coil springs respectively provided between adjacent elementary tubes around one of said pull wires.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
194 words
An articulated tube structure for use in an endoscope or the like comprising a number of elementary tubes connected in end-to-end relationship to form an articulated tube, connecting means for connecting the elementary tubes in such a manner that the articulated tube composed thereof is bendable, spring means connected between adjacent elementary tubes on one side of the articulated tube for urging the articulated tube to bend in one direction, and manipulating means including pull wires extending through the elementary tubes along several sides of the articulated tube for bending the articulated tube in one direction by pulling one of the pull wires on one side of the tube and in another direction by pulling another pull wire on another side thereof, for allowing the articulated tube to bend by the force of said spring means, said connecting means comprising connecting pins provided between adjacent elementary tubes for pivotally connecting the same, each connecting pin having an inwardly extending portion provided with a through hole through which one of said pull wires passes, said spring means comprising a series of coil springs respectively provided between adjacent elementary tubes around one of said pull wires.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-02-20 | 1987-08-22 | 1988-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-20 | 1991-08-22 | 1992-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-20 | 1995-08-22 | 1996-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |